Global leaders in electronic cards and payments have urged solution providers and merchants to focus on customers and innovation.

Taking part in the Cards & Payments Show Middle East 2012, which opened its doors today in Abu Dhabi, leading figures from the region’s cards and payments sector discussed key issues related to the sector.

Over 3,500 delegates are attending the event at Adnec.

The meeting’s agenda included the development of e-government services and digital governance, how e-identity can be merged with other industries, and innovative strategies in online and mobile payments and money transfers across retail, banking and telecom organisations.  

Laurent Le Moal, vice president and general manager Continental Europe and Middle East & North Africa Region for global leader PayPal, said: “This is the time to focus outward, on the customer and on innovation. Merchants across this region need to get ready to service customers through contactless payment methods that are secure and trust worthy.

“The goal should be to leverage all existing payment connections and bring them to ecommerce and mobile strategy. When adopting mobile strategy, merchants should be aware that mobile is not just about payments, but includes more comprehensive solutions such as mobile commerce, promotion coupons, loyalty solutions, self-scanning and self-checkout provisions and so forth,” she said.

Dr Ali Al Khouri, director general of Emirates Identity Authority, the official government partner of the show welcomed delegates and highlighted the importance of developing and integrating electronic government and identity services.

He said:  “We look forward to hearing about the latest solutions and technologies from leading experts and specialists and evaluating how they can be effectively used to upgrade government services to keep pace with the global competitiveness and abreast of the developments of the digital world we live in and contribute to a knowledge-based economy.”

Now in its 13th year, Cards & Payments Middle East 2012 brings together professionals in banking, telecoms, retail and government organisations in one place to discuss the Middle East’s paperless revolution in contactless payment solutions during the two-day event
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Over 120 exhibitors feature at the free-to–attend exhibition including the world’s leading solution providers and smart card developers.

The exhibition and conference includes over 70 free seminars and specific paid-to-attend conferences on key topics of interest including Digital ID World, Pre Paid Cards Conference, NFC Conference, Mobile Money World Conference, and RFID World Conference. Over 60 speakers from around the world will present papers. – TradeArabia News Service